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Jousting at the Fortress

From 13 September 2008 to 21 September 2008

Monselice, Padova.

Three consecutive weekends, beginning the second in September, herald a return to the Middle Ages: Monselice celebrates its history with a jousting tournament which commemorates the occasion when the Emperor Frederick II stayed at Monselice (for a whole month during the year 1239). The event recreates the atmosphere of those days with medieval costumes, archery contests, tests of strength using a millstone, a cross-country race and many more competitions with a trophy for the most agile and skilful. The contests are conducted between the nine districts of the city, and before the grand finale (the Quintana) all the 900 participants will form a procession through the historic centre of the city, recreating the festivals of the 12th century. Also to be marvelled at are the reconstructions of the period weapons: siege towers, catapults, crossbows, burning pitch cauldrons, battering rams and other devices. The final contest, the Quintana, consists in a threefold contest of ability involving 18 knights, and concludes the proceedings on the last Sunday of the festival.